Supersonic Jet to Zip Passengers from New York to London in Under 60 Minutes

• READ MORE:  Hypersonic jet to transport passengers across the Atlantic

Supersonic travel is moving closer to reality, after a successful test by a Texas a startup that might eventually transport passengers from New York to Paris in as little as 55 minutes.

Venus Aerospace has conducted the globe's inaugural atmospheric trial of a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE), an innovative drive mechanism that relies on whirling explosions rather than continuous burning to produce thrust.

The testing occurred on Wednesday, May 14, at Spaceport America. New Mexico , where a small rocket equipped with the new engine lifted off at 7:37am local time.

Venus CEO Sassie Duggleby said: 'This is the moment we've been working toward for five years.'

The firm intends to utilize the engine for its upcoming hypersonic jet , Stargazer, anticipated to achieve Mach 4 (3,069 mph), which is four times faster than the speed of sound.

Should approval be granted for commercial use, the $33 million aircraft would have the capability to cover the distance of 3,625 miles from New York to Paris in less than one hour. nearly three times faster Rather than the Concorde, which cruised at 1,354 miles per hour, the present journey lasts approximately eight hours.

Venus Aerospace intends to debut the aircraft sometime around the early 2030s, planning for each trip to accommodate as many as 12 travelers.

When compared to conventional rocket engines, RDREs provide better efficiency and a smaller size, which makes them ideal for sophisticated aerospace uses.

"We have demonstrated that this technology functions effectively—not only in simulations and laboratories, but also in the sky," Duggleby stated.

'This achievement brings us nearer to ensuring fast flights become available, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.'

First theorized in the 1980s, an efficient RDRE engine suitable for actual use has yet to be tested successfully in a real-world scenario.

Andrew Duggleby, co-founder and chief technology officer, stated: "Achieving rotational detonation represents a significant leap in performance that many have strived for."

The 'Venus' RDRE has addressed the final yet crucial aspects needed to realize the potential advantages of pressure-gain combustion. Our engine doesn’t just operate; it functions consistently and effectively—this reliability is key for scalability.

This forms the basis of what, together with a ramjet engine, will complete the system for taking off and maintaining hypersonic flight throughout.

Venus’s RDRE is designed to function alongside the company's proprietary VDR2 air-breathing detonation ramjet, which is an advanced propulsion technology.

This employs rotating detonation tech for achieving remarkably high velocities, possibly up to Mach 5—fivefold the speed of sound or faster.

Instead of bringing along oxygen like rockets do, it draws in air from the surrounding environment.

Rather than relying on gradual combustion, this system utilizes ultra-fast shockwaves from explosions to swiftly propel air and fuel through the engine.

This combination allows planes to launch from a runway and accelerate beyond Mach 6, sustaining hypersonic flight without relying on rocket engines," said Venus. in a statement .

Venus is gearing up for comprehensive thrust tests and the assembly of this system as they progress towards their final objective: the Stargazer M4, a hypersonic reusable airliner capable of reaching Mach 4.

Should Stargazer come to fruition, it will mark the debut of the first civilian-carrying commercial aircraft to surpass the speed of sound since the era of Concorde.

Retired more than 20 years ago, Concorde flew at a maximum altitude of 60,000 feet.

Venus Aerospace claims that their future aircraft will not just achieve greater speed but also reach unprecedented altitudes of up to 110,000 feet.

Similar to how Concorde passengers did nearly a quarter-century ago, Stargazer passengers will ascend high enough to observe the Earth’s curvature.

Here, the horizon appears as a gentle curve instead of a straight line, typically observed when you're at an altitude of 50,000 feet.

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